by Allie Burke
Jane reluctantly put down her book, and got up to relieve herself. She hadn’t slept all day today; her pattern was irregular because of the long nap in the hallway. She would stay up tonight, and sleep tomorrow morning, get back on her preferred schedule. She had been reading all day.
She didn’t take a step before her legs started shaking and her head lightened. She smiled, excited that she was going to embrace the remarkable experience again. She was aware of what would happen next, so she wasn’t afraid of passing out this time. She sat back down and waited. The black circles came, and after a few moments, her vision cleared. She took in the scene before her. She was standing in a near empty room.
He was in front of her, sitting in an adjustable swivel chair, his back to her. Jane had to admit silently to herself that his backside was almost as lovely as his front, especially since he had no shirt on. Settled on a tripod in front of him was a canvas. He had a paintbrush in his hand, the muscles in his arm slightly twitching as he shifted from the canvas to a palette of colored paints and back again. He was so muscular. It wasn’t like he was ripped from working out six times a day or anything, it fit him, like it was his natural form.
Jane could no longer manage the suspense of it all. His vast body was blocking the canvas, and Jane was very curious. She crossed the room, absolutely quiet, her bare feet gliding silently across the soft carpet. She stood beside him, and ignored the urge to squeal at its beauty when she saw it.
It was stunning. He had painted a woman with red hair. She sat at a small white table, her elbows resting on top of it, a book in her hands. The color of her eyes was a mystery as she read. The book had no title, but a picture of an apple on the front. Resting on the corner of the white table was a simple purple ceramic vase, in it a single stick of rosemary.
The similarities between Jane and the woman in the painting were unmistakable, but she couldn’t believe that it was her. This woman was so perfectly beautiful, Jane couldn’t compare her to the person she saw in the mirror.
He shifted in his chair, sat back and folded his arms. He traded his brush for a different one, and continued. She watched the small movements his body made as he worked, shifting her weight from foot to foot, impatiently waiting for him to finish.
When he sat still, Jane looked up, and this time was really taken aback. She covered her mouth with her hand to prevent some loud noise from escaping. There was only one small addition, but it developed the work of art into a masterpiece. The woman was still sitting in her chair reading, but just above her vivid red head was a cloud of violet glitter, emanating from her like steam. Jane squinted her eyes as he used a small paintbrush to autograph his painting in the glimmering violet color.
Elias Linden
Elias. The word seemed to roll effortlessly off her tongue as she silently moved her lips. Elias stood up, but Jane didn’t move. He stood behind his chair, hands resting on the back of it, admiring. A wide smile streaked his face. Jane practically fainted from the beauty of it. His smile was radiant, like watching a red rose bloom to its full beautiful potential in the span of a few seconds.
Elias opened his mouth to say something.
“No!” Jane screamed, grasping his arm. “Don’t talk!”
It was too late. Elias was already gone.
Chapter 5
He knew she was gone the second her cool touch withdrew from his arm. He never saw her, but had felt her disappear into some cold, dark place. He perceived the black emptiness where she had been summoned, her deep anxiety filling his heart. But he couldn’t reach her. He didn’t even know her name.
Elias opened his eyes and drew in a deep breath. He hadn’t been asleep, but in some kind of dark trance. He was standing in his studio, his completed painting in front of him. What was the last thing he said? He couldn’t remember. Whatever it was, he knew he heard a voice. It was a woman’s voice, alarmed, scared almost. Still a beautiful voice, though, like the sound a piano’s high keys made when played in a melody. He spun himself around, searching every corner of the room. No one was here.
Elias racked his brain for a moment. He remembered a cool sensation on his arm before he heard the voice. Then, nothing. Nothing until he found himself standing here. He looked down at his arm. On it was a hand print of glitter, purple. Elias looked at his painting, then looked at his arm, back and forth. The purple color in the painting was the exact shade of the handprint on his arm.
He was crazy. That’s all. A raging lunatic.
He went to the bathroom to shower. He washed his arm with soap, but it wouldn’t come off. He got out, ignoring his new tattoo, and he dressed in jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt. He put on some black leather boots, and went to the kitchen phone and dialed. After one ring, an older woman’s voice answered.
“Hey, Auntie.”
“Elias! Don’t call me Auntie, it makes me feel old. I’m so glad to hear from you! Did you get the spices and the tea I sent you?”
“Yeah,” he whispered, a quiet attempt to hide any skepticism or awkwardness that may be in his tone.
“What’s wrong?”
Elias closed his eyes. She was too good. There was no point in answering her. He had no idea how to explain how he was feeling at the moment.
“Has your mom called?”
“No.”
Jeanine let out a long sigh, which Elias could hear through the phone. She didn’t say anything further on the subject. There was nothing to say.
“Listen,” Elias said, “I’ve heard about this great place. Come out with me, I’ll buy you dinner.”
“Sounds great, honey. I’ll be ready in ten.”
Elias walked out the door, and got in Liam’s black Aston Martin. Liam had left everything he had to Elias, except the firm. He knew Elias didn’t want it.
He reversed from the driveway, and started making his way to Devonbrook, a small town right next to Hazel Grove. Gray County consisted of three towns: Devonbrook, Hazel Grove, and Jasmyn Lake. Hazel Grove was the party town, Devonbrook the family town, and Jasmyn Lake—Jasmyn was just really weird.
After a few minutes of driving, Elias reached a small residential area. He turned onto Church Street and pulled into the driveway. He smiled at his aunt’s house. Most of the small houses on this street were painted different shades of browns. Jeanine’s house was fuchsia with lilac trim and royal blue stairs leading to the porch. The yard was a mess. The grass couldn’t have been mowed in years. A small piece of white cloth distracted his view, and he looked up the tall oak tree in the yard. Hanging from the branches were shredded pieces of toilet paper, looking battered and weathered, like the tree had been teepee’d several weeks ago. Someone had used a screwdriver to draw a large X on the tree’s trunk.
Elias walked across the yard, the weeds attacking his knees, and went up the stairs. Two dead rats were next to the welcome mat, and several broken egg shells were scattered around the porch. Avoiding the dried egg goo, Elias knocked on the green door.
The door opened, and Jeanine smiled at him. She was sixty-two, not a gray hair on her head. Her fine brown hair was long, but she never let it down. She wore a long dress, every color known to man coming together on it. A bright blue scarf circled her neck, and her brown eyes were lined with pink shimmery makeup. He let out a long breath, relieved at the sight of her.
“Look how handsome you look,” Jeanine said. “It’s been too long. Come here.”
Elias stepped forward, hugged her and kissed her cheek. They walked to the car. Elias opened the passenger door for her, and drove back to Hazel Grove.
“Why don’t you move to Hazel, Jeanine?” Elias asked her in a very strict tone. They were thoughtless pranks, the neighbors clearly upset that Jeanine lived in their town without a family and with her crazy antics. Elias worried that it could turn to something dangerous. If Jeanine was harmed—Elias shivered, unable to complete the thought in his head.
“You know, I was going to. I was looking for a new house, so I rented this place tem
porarily until I could find something I liked. But I decided to stay the first time I found dead rodents on my porch. So I painted it pink.” She was smiling.
Elias just laughed. She was completely serious, and would not be influenced. That was just her.
“So. Do you want me to mow your lawn, at least?”
Jeanine laughed. “No, I like it. It scares the neighbors.”
Elias shook his head at her. She did sound crazy sometimes, but she wasn’t. She was the only sane one in their family, as far as he was concerned. She was nothing like her younger sister, Elias’s mother. Jeanine was a free spirit. Her paintings were amazing; she sold them to Hollywood celebrities and wealthy people all over the world. She never married, had no children, and didn’t regret a minute of her life. Of course his mother didn’t approve, but Elias could care less. He admired her.
After a few minutes, they reached Ruby’s Diner. He parked in the back, ignoring onlookers’ stares. They were looking at the car, not at him. They went into the diner, and found a small table in the corner. A young girl in a red polo shirt walked up to their table. She was a little plump, like she enjoyed food, but not fat, just comfy. Her nametag introduced her as Audrey.
“Welcome to Ruby’s. What can I get you?”
Elias looked across the table to Jeanine. She shrugged. “Whatever you think.”
“Are the rumors true?” he asked Audrey. “Is The Ruby as good as everyone says?”
“Yes,” she laughed nervously, “absolutely.”
“We’ll both try that.”
“To drink? We have a special blend of iced tea. It’s fused with rosemary.”
Elias’s throat crackled, and his laugh was so loud it was almost obnoxious in the setting of the quiet diner. He cleared his throat and forced a calm look on his face.
“That sounds great,” he said carefully, short pauses bubbling composure between each of his words.
Audrey narrowed her eyes at him before she walked away, like he was insane. Elias covered his eyes with his hand. He felt Jeanine’s eyes on him, but he didn’t look up until she spoke.
“Tell me what’s going on, Elias.”
He just stared at her.
“I’m waiting.”
“You’ll think I’m nuts.”
“I’m going to think your nuts? Really, Elias? Look at me. Look at me and tell me that anything you could say would make me love you any less.”
Elias breathed deep, and gave in. He told Jeanine about the strange encounters at the art gallery and in his studio.
“I want to see her,” he heard himself say.
Audrey arrived with the food, her presence preventing Elias from seeing Jeanine’s reaction. He didn’t want to worry Jeanine too much, so he ate. Even with his lack of appetite, the sandwich was surprisingly delicious, there were at least three different meats, and different cheeses in between each layer. The grease dripped from the bottom of the bread onto his plate. The tea paired with it well; it was very different.
Halfway through his meal, Jeanine finally spoke. “Elias, I want to tell you a story. No questions. Just listen.”
~ * ~
“I got something for you,” Annabelle said, walking in the house, and she revealed a painting of Van Gogh’s Starry Night.
Jane squealed. “Oh, Anna, it’s beautiful.” She ran to Annabelle and gave her a tight hug.
Annabelle kissed her cheek. “Let’s go hang this up.”
Chapter 6
Jane opened her eyes, a little startled at the darkness around her. She was in a flat position, like lying on her back, but nothing was under her. She was floating. Her surroundings were completely dark, she couldn’t see anything. She shivered as cold air wafted over her skin. She crossed her arms in a bundle, but it didn’t help. It was like being in a cave, cold and dark, but not a cave at all, the absence of walls or a floor very un-cave-like.
She wasn’t scared, just cold. This magic, it didn’t frighten her. She could feel the aliveness charging through her body, like she was trapped in a bubble of it, the power of her energy separating her from the rest of the world.
She became irritated as she thought of Elias. He was the reason she was here. She couldn’t understand why he talked to himself so much. If he could just be quiet, she could stay with him. She grunted, upset that she was torn away from him so quickly.
She remembered touching him. He was so warm. She felt strong waves of heat set her chest ablaze as she came in contact with his skin. She was irritated again. She wished he was here with her. He would keep her warm.
Aware that there was nothing else she could do, she closed her eyes and waited out the dark emptiness.
Elias leaned back and relaxed, his best effort to keep an open mind. Jeanine began.
“Sometime in the 1600s, random people all over the world were changing. Women and men of all ages noticed unique strengths in their bodies. They had unique abilities. They didn’t understand it, so, in fear, they made promises to keep the world safe. They would keep their existence a secret and they would only use their powers to defend themselves.
“Generations later, grandchildren of these people were acquiring the same ability as their ancestors. Still today, they are inheriting their family gift.”
“Witches,” Elias whispered.
“No. Witches don’t exist. They’re Enchanters. Enchanters are born with magic in their blood. Nature helps them thrive. It could be the sun, or the moon, or the earth. They manipulate elements.”
Elias must have had a very skeptical look, because Jeanine closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Elias quickly evened his expression, regretting his immaturity. This was, hard, on Jeanine.
“The important ones, the especially powerful ones, they have a destiny. They cannot ignore it. The magic in them will force them down the path that leads to it.”
Jeanine finally opened her eyes. “The woman. I think her destiny is you.”
Elias did not argue. He had never seen a more serious look in her eyes. He knew Jeanine. She wouldn’t tell him any of this unless she was absolutely sure. Unless she had seen it for herself.
Jeanine continued. “If you’re going to pursue this, you have to be careful. They are protected. They carry auras. Its colored, based on their element, but you will not be able to see it. It is only visible to those of their kind.”
Elias blinked. “Color?”
Jeanine narrowed her eyes. “You left something out?”
He pushed up his sleeve, and held his arm out to Jeanine. She caught a glimpse of the glittery hand print on his arm, and she covered her mouth with both hands. Her makeup smeared under her eyes. She was crying.
“Jeanine?” Elias didn’t know what to do, didn’t understand what he had just done.
Her hands went to her chest. “Her voice—”
“Music,” he murmured.
Jeanine nodded. “Her name is Jane Wildes. She’s not just any Enchanter. She’s The Enchanter. One of a kind.”
Kate Linden sat up from the leather chair behind the desk in her office, taking a break from the paperwork she had brought home with her. She stretched her arms and walked to the opposite wall where a picture of her smiling three year old boys hung.
The office was very conservative, decorated in earth tones. The desk was oak, accommodating a computer and a framed photo of Kate in her judge gown, her face in it completely serious. Next to the desk on the wall was a long bookcase, containing mostly textbooks and references. Kate remembered that she loved to read at a time, constantly immersing herself in romance novels. She couldn’t recall when she had stopped reading. She wondered how something like that could happen—how at one moment a person could possess an overwhelming devotion for literature, and then at one point in life they couldn’t remember what events cut them off from their desires.
Kate seldom allowed herself to think of Elias, but at the moment she missed him, yearned for his company. She wasn’t feeling up to pushing him to the back of her mind tonight.
Kate inhaled a deep breath. She had changed so much since her mother died. Eve Hadley was so… she couldn’t even think of a word awful enough. Kate was aching to get away from her mother her entire life. She had to get away after Eve was gone. Not everyone was as talented as Jeanine anyway, some people had to go to college.
She met Grant in college. He was an aspiring law student, and Kate was in love. He was strong willed, confident, and charming. They married just after graduation. Kate didn’t particularly want children, but Grant convinced her that it was imperative to their careers. She was overwhelmed when she gave birth to twins. Shortly after the boys were born, Kate and Grant fought about everything. She thought that they could work out their marriage once Elias and Liam graduated high school and moved out. But then, a disgrace was among them. Liam was gay, and it was her fault. He was her son, after all. Grant disowned Liam. Kate had no choice but to do the same. Grant even lost interest in being a father to Elias, being so close to Liam. Neither Kate nor Grant had seen Liam for years before the funeral, except in court, where their choice of company was nothing if not limited. There was no emotion at the time of his passing.
Kate walked to the window and watched the rain dance onto the glass, until she heard the office door open. She turned to find Grant standing in the doorway. He was a handsome man, medium build with a hard face: typical lawyer material. He was dressed in a tailored suit and conservative tie, as always. He wore his black hair slicked back, the darkness of it contrasting his ocean blue eyes. Kate looked at his lips. She couldn’t remember the last time her husband had kissed her.
